Boxer

Originally developed in Germany by Friedrich Robert, Elard König, and R. Höpner the Boxer is known for its classical underbite look. Developed from Old English Bulldog and now extinct Bullenbeisser. Unique to the breed the first Boxer was exhibited in a show organized for St. Bernards in 1895 with the breed being formally established the next year.

Not surprising the Boxer is one of the most popular breeds in America.

Visually the length of the muzzle to the whole of the head should be a ratio of 1:3. Tail and ear cropping has been the norm but has been changing. When ears are cropped it should follow the long crop look. While the expectation in most show rings be that the tail is cropped due to laws in some countries making docking illegal this may not follow true. In response to such laws a line has been developed in the United Kingdom that has a naturally bobbed tail. In response to this there has been some backlash with some registries not allowing the bobtailed variety to be shown in countries where docking is legal.

The standard color for the breed is fawn and brindle however some white Boxers do also exist. White Boxers while not enjoying the opportunity to be shown in most show rings are quite desired in their own niche market for everyday owners and breed enthusiasts. With the excessive white also comes greater risk of some cancers such as skin cancer due to the lack of melanin that acts as natural sunburn protection. Also because melanin plays an important role in auditory development white Boxers experience higher levels of deafness.

This breed has also served as the foundation breed for the American Bulldog, which is a mix between Boxer and Pit Bull. Based on the higher degree of white in American Bulldogs it is not unreasonable to believe that white Boxers were preferred when developing the American Bulldog breed. This has also lead to some confusion with white Pit Bulls often being mis-labeld as American Bulldogs either out of honest confusion or in many cases in the attempt to try and avoid being victimized through breed specific legislation ( BSL ) that often targets the Pit Bull breed.

While visually the Boxer can be a deterring factor it is known to not be vicious. Alternatively it has been reported to be more stubborn but many report greater success in reward based training vs. operant conditioning.

During WWII the breed was used as part of the war effort as a pack carrier, guard dog and messenger.

The name Boxer is thought by some to have been developed by the breed tendency to stand on its hind legs and play box with its front paws. It is more likely that it was a corruption of the word Boxl, which the Bullenbeisser (Brabanter) from which it was developed were also called. Other theories also exist but the truth is no one really knows.

Weight

55-70 lb (25–32 kg)

Height

21.5-25 ins. (53–63 cm)

Coat

Short, shiny, smooth, close-lying

Color

Fawn or brindle, black mask, with or without white markings, and white